Shreyansh Nakkanti (00:12):
This is Shreyansh Nakkanti with EagleAir Radio. Thank you for tuning in today. Welcome to today’s episode where we’ll be diving into the world of speech and debate. The club that proves that arguing with your parents can actually be a resume skill. Now don’t worry, we’re not here to start family feuds. So we’re here to explore how speech and debate sharpens minds mills confidence, and also transform students into leaders both inside and outside of the classroom. Through stories, insights, and maybe even a few behind the scenes laughs we’ll uncover how this activity isn’t just about winning rounds, it’s about winning at life in school and beyond. Today we will be interviewing Katlyn Russell, a freshman in the Speech and Debate Club. So with my first question, how did you get involved in speech and debate and what was your origin story with the activity?

Katlyn Russell (01:11):
I first did speech and debate because I really liked debating and my mom was on speech and debate when she was in high school, so she encouraged me to join.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (01:20):
Yeah. Adding on to this, what’s one common misconception you would say about Speech and Debate Club that you’d technically like to clear up?

Katlyn Russell (01:29):
Probably that it’s only debate. That’s kind of what I went into it thinking is that we’d only be debating, but speech and debate has a lot more events than that, and it’s really more speech than debate.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (01:39):
Yeah. And can you share any behind the scenes stories that you’ve experienced from any tournament that no one else really knows?

Katlyn Russell (01:48):
Sometimes people are still riding their speeches or memorizing them on the bus ride there.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (01:53):
That’s pretty cool. Yeah. Yeah. Adding on to this for the skills and development questions, what specific habits or practice routines do you have that help you stay productive and focused during these like competitive seasons?

Katlyn Russell (02:15):
Practice your speech. All repeat it, even if you’re not really practicing it, just kind of practice it whenever you can recite it whenever you’re eating your morning Cheerios.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (02:25):
Yeah. What specific habits or routines when you say would help a new student?

Katlyn Russell (02:34):
Make some friends that have good advice and work with them a lot. And once again, just repeat your speeches every time you can.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (02:40):
Yeah. And how would you handle tough cross examinations? Their debates and critical thinking under pressure, especially when, let’s say this is a finals round, there’s a lot of audience members watching. What would go through your mind?

Katlyn Russell (02:57):
If I was debating, I’d probably send up a quick prayer because real my struggle. But in speech, usually my characters thrive under pressure because they’re supposed to be a little pithy. So I take advantage of the anxiety I get and just really put that into my character.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (03:13):
Yeah. I know you already talked about how you handle it, but which debate format do you prefer, or which is your favorite and what do you think makes it so special out of Lincoln Douglas Public Forum Policy Congress. In other ones too.

Katlyn Russell (03:31):
I’ve only ever done public forum, but I think Lincoln Douglas is probably my favorite because it discusses philosophy and makes you think a little harder than just looking up facts,

Shreyansh Nakkanti (03:43):
Which can also be a real life skill too.

Katlyn Russell (03:45):
Yes.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (03:47):
What do you think is the scariest thing about the entire season?

Katlyn Russell (03:51):
Sometimes you feel unprepared or in the moment you might mess up your speech a little, so that’s always a little scary.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (03:58):
Yeah. Oh, what’s one piece of advice that you would give to these new members that they might not already know, or one thing that may persuade them to join?

Katlyn Russell (04:11):
Well, you build a lot of confidence, so that’s what I’d say to persuade them. And a piece of advice is trust yourself a little more. Because if you get super worked up before, the anxiety is what’s going to make you forget your speech. But if you’re really relaxed and you just do what you’ve been doing, then you’ll have a better chance of going well.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (04:28):
Yeah. And what was your process for researching and preparing for both sides of these complex debate cases and things?

Katlyn Russell (04:38):
First, I’ll discuss with other people that are debating, so we can see a bunch of different sides. And sometimes my friends will have information I didn’t think of, or I’ll have information they didn’t think of. So it’s really more of a group project. That’s how I think of it as.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (04:54):
Yeah. And how would you say it can impact your student life during these presentations and stuff? How you think speech and debate can help students?

Katlyn Russell (05:06):
Oh, it helps a lot because, well, one, you just have better thinking skills with all your research, and you also become more confident with your speaking skills. And if you’re debating, you are better asking good questions and making your point clear.

Shreyansh Nakkanti (05:24):
And that sound that you just heard students in the middle of a debate is exactly what makes this club so powerful. It’s not just about winning rounds, it’s about learning to think critically, listen carefully, and also speak with true purpose. Speech and debate teaches daily skills that go far beyond the classroom. Whether it’s writing essays, presenting in front of a class, interviewing for a job, or even navigating everyday conversations, the ability to communicate clearly is a game changer. Thank you for tuning in today to Eagle Air Radio. This is Shreyansh Nakkanti signing out. Stay safe and don’t forget to stay curious.